Introduction: A Powerful, Yet Gentle Treatment Approach

Internal Family Systems is a type of mental health treatment that was discovered and brought into the larger psychotherapy world by Richard Schwartz, starting in the 1970’s. This therapy approach, also known as IFS or parts-work, is a practice of bringing greater harmony into the relationship that you have with all the different aspects of yourself. The purpose of this is to reduce the experience of overwhelm, despair, self-sabotage, destructive habits, and many other tendencies that we would rather be without.

Without going into the nitty-gritty of this therapy model, I will say that the practice of IFS is incredibly empowering for the clients that I work with. Instead of labeling behaviors as “good” or “bad,” we acknowledge that every choice and action is an attempt to meet a need. It is just that certain choices have more negative consequences than others, sometimes to the extent of having even a life-altering impact.

Paying Attention to the Warning Signs From Our Subconscious Minds

These can be things like settling for a romantic partnership with someone who has extremely poor money management skills or has trouble celebrating our successes because they can never seem to get ahead in life. Or making questionable and unethical decisions at work due to pressure from a boss and fear that we might lose our job, but then being haunted by the possible future impacts of that decision.

Choices or tendencies like these are signals that we are desperately and urgently in need of a change. And, as is often the case, we can begin to live in a way that is more to our personal- and professional- advantage, by starting with how we are doing on the inside.

Getting to Know Your “Parts”

IFS invites you to get to know the different “parts” at work within you that are driving you to fear certain things or make certain choices. This way you can learn to meet your needs in a way that allows you to calm your nervous system, and be more sensitive to the past hurts that are influencing your present-day decisions. Even if you do not yet know why you behave the way that you do, you can better understand yourself through the work of IFS.

The Unresolved Pain We Carry in Our Inner Child

One very important reason why it is worth taking the time to do this work for yourself is because of the impact it can have on your inner child. The inner child is generally a way of referring to the younger version of yourself that continues to live inside of you, metaphorically speaking, and that often experiences unresolved pain and heartache from earlier in life.

This tender and vulnerable part of us tends to believe that the past is the present, and can leave the adult version of you feeling stuck and trapped in your own negative habits, because you have little understanding of why you feel the way that you do. While this is pretty frustrating, there is a lot you can do to transform the feeling of being stuck within the IFS treatment model.

Helping Our Inner Child Find Freedom From Fear

By getting to know and understand your inner child better, you can develop a greater sense of compassion and love for your most vulnerable and fearful parts, while also helping them to trust your leadership, as a capable, courageous and kind adult version of yourself.

When you develop this positive relationship with yourself, the benefits go in both directions. Your inner child will be much more soothed and relaxed in the face of stress, allowing you to think clearly and creatively under pressure and make great decisions. And as you make better decisions that yield more positive results, your inner child will no longer have to result to the pattern of self-sabotage behaviors that have gotten you into trouble in the past. It’s a wonderful Win-Win!

What Will IFS Therapy Do For You?

Of course, this is simply one example of the kind of transformation that can happen using IFS therapy. There are many more patterns that can be uncovered, and many other types of beliefs, self-doubt, and negative coping behaviors that can be undone through this reflective and compassionate approach. The possibilities are truly endless.

IFS therapy can happen gradually over the course of weekly sessions that build on your understanding of your internal world, as different situations arise. Or you can choose to have customized intensive sessions that are focused on mapping out your personal internal family within a shorter amount of time. Either way, the degree of self-confidence you will develop from knowing yourself on such a deep level is hard to quantify in words. I hope that you have the opportunity to experience this for yourself, and reap all the rewards that it entails.

If you feel excited by what an IFS therapy intensive can do for you and the challenges you are currently facing, I would be happy to discuss working with you!

Take the first step and schedule your consultation call for services today.

Interested in Starting Therapy to treat Problems with Your Internal Family System in Arlington or Richmond VA?

Are you frustrated that you continue to struggle with self-sabotage? Learn how to work successfully with your inner parts through holistic and evidence based counseling. Our specialized support at Satya Counseling & Yoga is designed to fit seamlessly into your busy life, empowering you to conquer self-sabotage and thrive. Prioritize your mental well-being – embark on a transformative journey towards a happier and more fulfilling life by following these three steps to get started:

1. Schedule a complimentary 15-minute call to see if we’ll be the right fit

2. Begin meeting with me, therapist and trauma-informed yoga teacher, Linda Sanderville, for your session

3. Start moving forward in your personal and professional life in a positive and healthy way!

Other Services Offered at Satya Counseling and Yoga

At Satya Counseling and Yoga, I want to help create a safe space for my clients to start their healing journey individually or as a couple. To help accommodate you at my Northern Virginia practice, the services I offer in addition to depression therapy include trauma therapy, anxiety therapy, and depression therapy. I also offer a Transformation Therapy Intensive for those looking to seek accelerated progress toward their identified goals and personal growth and Yoga for Therapy to help increase your mental resilience and enhance your emotional state. For more about my practice check out my FAQs and blog!